Decked with Wildflowers

Psalm 30:11-12
You did it: you changed wild lament
into whirling dance;
You ripped off my black mourning band
and decked me with wildflowers.
I’m about to burst with song;
I can’t keep quiet about you.
God, my God,
I can’t thank you enough. (The Message)

In the past six months I have been dealing with all the issues that come with my 94- year-old father having dementia. My sister and I discovered he had been having problems and two weeks later he told us that he couldn’t live by himself anymore. That was followed by moving him in with my family and then episodes of dementia related hallucinations. Things progressed quickly. We had a police officer offer prayers for us and a doctor hold my hand and convince me that I was doing all the right things. Without the support of prayers, a Stephens Minister, Rev. Terry, and a loving congregation I would not have made it through this time. God sent me what I needed when I called out.

We realized we could not keep dad in our home and found the perfect place for him through a Bible Study friend. The last blow was on the first night in the memory care facility where my dad managed to escape. It was the coldest night of the year, and he left in a t-shirt. The blessing was that a walker found him within hours and called the police when they realized he couldn’t remember where he lived. God was following my dad around, keeping him safe.

Reading this scripture gives you an illustration of how I feel today. My dad is safe and flourishing. My family does not feel guilty about our decision. I am sleeping all night! My God is good, all the time. I am thankful for the ways me and my family were ministered to during this time. I am in my whirling dance stage and out of the black lament stage. But I know that we will have another time of lament, but my God will be there, and I will be blessed with my have my community of faith with me too!

Paula Heiney